Why immigration is important to Canada

By Gokul Gobikrishna

You have heard a million reasons why immigrating to Canada is great for your future. It could be for international labour experience, for promises of higher educations, or a simple change in scenery. Regardless of your reasons, did you know Canada’s just as lucky to have you? Here’s why immigration is Canada’s secret to success.

Labour Market

Immigration has a tremendous positive impact on the Canadian labour force. Canada’s 2020 annual report on immigration says approximately 1 in 4 workers in the country are immigrants. And beyond that, as of 2016, 600,000 self-employed immigrants were responsible for employing 260,000 Canadians. In simpler terms, new arrivals work hard and often become small business owners responsible for further strengthening the economy. That goes beyond the excellent and innovative services they provide that might otherwise be absent.

Educated Society

When Canada accepts more new arrivals, it becomes a more educated country. In 2019, over 50% of recent immigrants had a university degree. Children of immigrants also tend to achieve high levels of education, often reaching comparable levels of labour market success as their Canadian-born counterparts. But the question is, why does this matter? A more educated population often correlates with innovation, whether with small businesses as mentioned above or larger industries. It’s no coincidence that Canada is one of the most educated societies globally and, subsequently, one of the best countries to settle in. Much of that international recognition is the result of the contribution of immigrants.

Participation

Another reason why Canada loves immigrants is because of their active participation in society. In the 2019 federal election, 72% of immigrants living in Canada for less than ten years and 75% who have been in Canada for more than ten years came out to vote. In other words, a considerable portion of Canada’s political voice comes from its immigrant population. Furthermore, immigrants are incredibly generous. The 2020 annual report mentions that immigrants who donated were quite willing with various national and international charities.

Strengthen Cultural Diversity

The final reason immigration is so beneficial to Canada is it strengthens our cultural diversity and global connections. This country is simply one of the most multicultural places on the planet, which translates to new celebrations, services, languages, ideas, and interests. Canada’s successful integration of immigrants into its population has translated into closer global ties with other nations worldwide. It has also helped give Canada a reputation as one of the friendliest and most accepting countries, which is not bad.

Moving to Canada helps you achieve your dreams by providing resources, networks, and a vast, beautiful landscape. In return, you help the country build a stronger, more secure future for itself. Immigration is here to stay, and it’s a great thing for you and Canada.

This article is sponsored by Next Stop Canada, a pre-arrival program for immigrants to Canada. To register for it and avail of its services, visit www.nextstopcanada.ca.